Leveling mechanism



Jan. l, 1929. 1,697,391

R, LAIR LEVELING MECHANI SM origina Filed .June 15, 1926 2 sheets-sheet 1 Enh ED Lair ff SW6 R. LAR

LEVELING MEcHAN-Ism Jan. 1, 1929. 1,697,391

originan Filed June 15, 192s 2 sheets-511991 2 Patented Jan. ,1, 1929.

rif-luren] stares i l anni earner/ermee.

ROBERT LA IB, or' KINGSTON, wnsnnveroiv.

LEVEIJING l Meenemen.

Original application led .Tune 15, 1926, Serial No. 116,178. Divided and. this application filed April 25,

l 1927. serial ivo. 186,423.

The object of this invention is to provide means whereby an excavating machine may be maintained in a level condition, notwithstanding that it may be working upon a hillside or upon a surface which is not level, the lpresent application being a division of an application filed by me June 15, 1926, Serial No. 116,178.

In the drawing: Y

Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying my present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectionon the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail section.

At or near the opposite ends of the frame 1 are secured the upright frames 2 which will generally be of arched construction, as shown most clearly in Figures 3 and 4. Upon the sides of the vertical end frame 2 are mounted spindles 3 which carry ground wheels 4 at their lower ends so that the machine will be supported upon the ground and may readily travel thereover. The spindles 3 are vertically slidable in guides, indicated at 5, upon the outer sides of the respective end frames, and this sildable mounting of the spindles permits the wheels to assume any desired position vertically with respect to the main frame so that the frame will be supported at any desired height above the surface of the ground, and also permits the wheels to assume different vertical positions so that notwithstanding an inclination of the ground surface the frame will remain level. To adjust the front wheels, I provide a shaft 6 which is mounted in suitable bearings upon the upper end of the front arched frame 2 and upon the said shaft are loosely mounted drums 7 about cach of which is wound a cable 8 which" or preferred manner, cooperates with this ratchet to prevent reverse rotation of the drum so that after the cable has been Wound to bring the frame into the desired position the withdrawal of the moving force will not result in a dropping of the frame but the frame will remain supported in the position in which it has been set. A clutch 12, which may he of any well-known type and is illustrated conventionally, is arranged to cooperate with cach drum so that, when the cable is to be wound, the drum may be locked to the shaft 6 and, consequently, rotate with the shaft. 1f it be desired to lower the frame, all that needs to be done is to release the dog or pawl 11, whereupon the weight of the frame will cause the cable to unwind and permit descent of the frame. It will be understood that, if the surface of the ground be uneven, the wheel 4 at one side of the machine may be permitted to assume a lower position relative to the frame than the wheel at the opposite side so that the wheels will be accommodated to theinclination of the ground. The shaft 6 is rotated by the power of a motor, indicated conventionally at 13, and to effect the rotation of the shaft 6 a sprocket is secured thereon, as indicated at 14, and a chain 15 is trained around the .cometorsional strain and prevent twisting of the frame, and this leveling or adj ust-ment of :the rear end of the frame is accomplished automatically. The spindles 3 at the rear endof the machine are similar to the spindles 3 at the front end thereof and are vmounted in guides 5 in the same manner.

The upper extremities of the rear spindles, however, are equipped with pins or studs 18 which are'disposed vertically axially of the respective spindles and are fitted loosely through collars 19, the extremities of the pins or` pintles being upset, as indicated at 20, whereby endwise movement of the spindles relative to the collars will beprevented but the spindles may move pivotally in the collars. Each collar 19 is provided with trunnions 21 at diametrically opposite points of its outer circumference and upon these trunnions is pivotally engaged a fork or yoke 22 at the lower end of a link 23, the upper end of each link being pivoted to the Of course,

end of a walking beam 24 which is fulcrumed midway its ends in or upon a pedestal 25 erected upon the adjacent end frame 2 at the top thereof, as will be understood. @ranks 28 are fitted tothe several spindles and a link 29 connects the cranks at the same end of the machine while a steering shaft 34 is mounted on the side of the machine and geared to one of the cranks to turn the spindles and effect steering.- l y 'Having thus described the invention, I claim: An excavating machine comprising a frame, vertically disposed spindles slidably mounted upon the sides of the frame at the ends of the same, ground wheels carried by the lower ends of the spindles, a walking beam mounted upon the frame adjacent and between the upper ends of the spindles, links pivoted to the ends of the walking beam and having forked lower ends, and collars pivoted within the forked ends of the f links and swiveled on the upper ends of the ROBERT LAIR. [L s] 

